Seton Hall University
Rutgers
Volleyball Outlasts Rutgers in Five-Set Marathon
9/11/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 11, 2013
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - Stacey Manthorpe (Merion Station, Pa.) had three consecutive kills late in set five to turn a 13-11 deficit into a 14-13 lead as the Seton Hall volleyball team held off Rutgers, 3-2 (25-20, 25-20, 19-25, 21-25, 16-14), on Wednesday.
Manthorpe, who appeared to have tweaked her injured shoulder earlier in the match, tallied her second double-double of the season with 13 kills and 14 digs.
The weary and injury-plagued Pirates had to hold on despite winning the first two sets in convincing fashion. It was the fifth, five-set marathon in seven matches so far this year for Seton Hall.
Amanda Hansen (Pewaukee, Wis.) had a strong match for the Pirates. The sophomore led Seton Hall with 14 kills, seven blocks and an impressive .619 attack percentage. Shelbey Manthorpe (Merion Station, Pa.) notched a double-double with a match-high 39 assists to go with 11 digs.
Rutgers (3-5) took an early 9-6 advantage in set one, but Seton Hall scored four straight points and took the lead on block assists by Hansen and Kayla Kohler (Whitehall, Pa.). The Scarlet Knights edged ahead, 17-16, but Seton Hall bounced back with three straight points to take a 19-17 lead. The Pirates scored four of the next five points to take a commanding 23-17 lead and rolled to a 25-20 first set victory.
The Scarlet Knights started fast again in set two, scoring three of the first four points, but Seton Hall went on a 5-1 run to take an early 6-4 lead. The Pirates methodically increased their lead, eventually taking an 18-13 advantage on a Rutgers attack error. Rutgers would cut the margin to three points, three times, but got no closer as Seton Hall took set two, 25-20, to take a commanding two-sets-to-none match lead.
The Pirates dramatically cut down on mistakes in set two, committing just three attack errors. Hansen and Stacey Manthorpe led the Pirates with four kills apiece in set two.
Seton Hall (2-5) again found itself with an early deficit as the Scarlet Knights scored the first four points of set three. The Pirates cut the lead to 10-8, but Rutgers scored three straight to boost their advantage back to five points, 13-8. Seton Hall responded with four straight to cut the Rutgers lead to 13-12, but Rutgers reeled off three straight points to push their lead to 16-12. With the Scarlet Knights leading 21-15, the Pirates scored four straight to pull to within two points at 21-19. But Seton Hall didn't get closer and Rutgers remained alive in the match with a 25-19 set three victory.
Hansen's ace gave Seton Hall an early 7-3 lead in set four, but Rutgers responded with an 8-2 run to give the Scarlet Knights an 11-9 advantage. With the score tied at 16, Rutgers went on another run, 7-2, to take a commanding, 23-18 lead. Seton Hall closed the gap to 23-21, but fell in set four, 25-21, to force a decisive fifth set.
The Pirates had to come back in set five. Trailing 9-5, Seton Hall scored four of the next five points to cut the Rutgers lead to 10-9. Then with the Scarlet Knights leading 13-10, Ashani Rubin (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Manthorpe took over for Seton Hall. Rubin's kill cut the Rutgers lead to 13-11 and Manthorpe drove home three straight points to give the Pirates a 14-13 lead. Tied at 14, Rubin's kill put the Pirates in match point at 15-14, and then Rubin's block won set five for the Pirates, 16-14.
Rubin finished the match with seven kills and four blocks.
Seton Hall will return to action on Tuesday, Sept. 17 when it makes the short trip to Princeton to take on the Tigers. Match time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
